US police warn AirTags could be used to steal cars

Officials in Vermont, United States, have been advised to look for AirTags after road trips to Canada. A. local police believe it was an accessory Apple It is one of the components used in vehicle tracking and theft schemes..

One of the known cases was that of Ethan Yang, a Massachusetts resident who frequently traveled to Montreal, Canada, to visit family. After returning from one of these trips, his cell phone alerted him to the presence of an unidentified AirTag nearby.

So Yang made the location system make the AirTag beep. HE Driver found the accessory in the front grille of the car.

According to Vermont police, this isn’t the first time such a finding has come to light. Authorities say there has been a significant increase in reports of unknown AirTags being found inside cars after passing through Canada, which would be one of the steps before the vehicle is stolen.

“They may be identifying vehicles that could be stolen and shipped overseas as part of a car theft ring,” Ryan McLiverty, a cyber analyst with the Vermont Intelligence Center, said in an interview with WCAX.

“Criminals are increasingly using technology to target individuals, and sometimes even knowing the basic security features of these devices can go a long way,” he added.

How to find unknown AirTags?

Apple trackers are designed to make it easier to find small items like bags, key chains and other everyday accessories. However, since the accessory’s launch, there have been repeated reports of misuse or criminal use, whether for the purpose of tracking people or stealing cars.

As a control measure, Apple has introduced a number of mechanisms to prevent users from being tracked without their permission. On Android, the official tool is called Tracker Detect, a free app that scans the nearby area to find unknown AirTags.